Artist s easel



No. 610,644. Patented Sept. l3, I898.

A. K. CROSS.

ARTISTS EASEL.

(Application filed Sept. 15. 1896.)

(No Model.)

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we Nonms PETERS c0. vnorouno" WASHINGTON. o c

ANSON K. CROSS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

Am -r 3 EAS EL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 610,644, datedSeptember 13, 1898.

' A limi n filed September s, 1.896. Serial No. 605,886. on model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ANSON K. CROSS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Artists Easels, andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to artists sketchingeasels, and more particularlyto certain improved casels patented by me June 14, 1887, No. 364,991,and December 26, 1893, No. 511,324; and the objects of my invention are,first, to reduce the cost of manufacture, and, second, to simplify andincrease the efficiency of easels.

The invention will be fully set forth in the following specification andclaims and clearly illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forminga part of the same, of which- Figure 1 represents my improved easel inperspective and having my improvements applied intheir proper places.Fig. 2 is an elevation showing a portion of a vertically-adjustablejointed rod having thereon a movable catch for fastening the top of acanvas. Fig. 3 is an edge view of the adjustable catch detached for thejointed rod. Fig. 4 is the blank cut from sheet metal, which may be bentto form the strap portion of the catch for the jointed rod. Fig. 5 is abroken edge View of a portion of one of the legs of an easel havingattached thereto my improved fastening for the bottom of a canvas. Fig.6 is a side view representingjthe same parts and showing the bottomportion of a canvas as when secured by my improved fastening. Fig. 7 isa detached view of a portion of my improved fastening for attachment tothe legsections of an easel, showing by dotted lines the manner ofopening the fastening for removal. Fig. 8 is a detached view showing animproved construction for a head-piece which carries the jointed slidingbar and to which the legs of an easel are pivotally attached. Figs. 9and 10 represent the blanks out from sheet metal from which said head isformed in two parts and riveted together. Fig. 11 is a plan View of thehead shown in Fig. 7. Fig.

12 is a broken elevation showing the adjustable sections of one of thelegs of an easel and my improved clamping device for the same. Fig. 13represents the same parts in edge view. Fig. 14 is a plate-piece formingpart of my improved leg-clamping device and to which is pivotallyconnected a curved clamping-lever. Figs. 15, 16, and 17 are details.

Similar letters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Among the important features of this improvement in easels are theadjustable canvas-clamps shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6. In my easel, PatentNo. 364,991, dated June 14, 1887, the straps holding the leg-sectionstogether were secured to the upper part of the lower leg-section, andwhile the adjustable canvas-supports mightbe placed upon either of theleg-sections, when upon the upper section they wouldoften interfere withthe sliding of the lower section, and as the latter was not secured tothe upper leg-section it was liable to be dropped ofi and lost. Theeasel patented by me, No. 511,324, dated December 26, 1893, obviatedthis difficulty by attachingfi the straps encircling the leg-sections tothe upper section, a pin being provided in the lower section to preventits falling out; but this construction did not permit the canvas-clampsto be placed upon the lower section.

It is often desirable that the clamp be upon the lowerleg-section, andmy present invention embodies a canvas-clamp constructed of two partsand pivotally connected, so as to adapt them for ready attachment toeither leg-section, which is a'great advantage and improvement over theclamps shown in my patent of 1887.

Referring to the drawings, A is the vertically-movable jointed bar,having grooves or notches a in one of its edges for the reception of thetop of a canvas. This bar is identical with that, shown in my previouspatents; but the metal fastening device to be herein described difiersfrom that described in my former patents, being formed of a piece ofsheet metal 13, having prongs b b on opposite edges intermediate itsends, the latter being perforated at b to receive a pin 5 upon which ismounted the cam b taking the place of the more expensive set-screw forfastening the device, as shown in the patent of 1887. My improvedhead-piece is also formed of sheet metal and is in two parts 0 O, whichare bent to form a well or socket c for receiving the jointed bar A, theears 0 0 respectively, being bent and secured together by a rivet andeach part 0 0 being provided, respectively, with ears 0 0 to which arepivoted the side legs of the easel, the part 0 having additional ears 0,to which is pivotally attached the rear leg, and ears 0 for carrying thefastening-cam 0 which takes the place of the set-screw used for thepurpose in my previous patents, and the whole construction of thisimproved head is superior to my former construction and is moreaccurately and more cheaply made.

D represents the upper and D the lower section of either of theadjustable legs, and in place of the more expensive casting forfastening these sections shown in my patent of 1893 I make the fasteningof sheet metal, as fully illustrated by Figs. 11, 12, 13, 14:, and 15;and it consists of straps E E, secured by screws to the upperleg-section and passing around the lower leg-section D, said strapsbeing notched, as at e, a plate F being notched at f for receiving thestraps E E by engaging the notches e, and a suitable cam-lever G,pivotally attached to said plate F, acting as a wedge between the twoleg-sections for holding them at any desired position. This camlever maybe cheaply made by striking from sheet metal, the cam or Wedge portionbeing made by turning up the outer edge or forming a V-ridge, as shownat g, Figs. 13 and 16, said ridge gradually increasing in thickness fromend to end. It is also preferable to provide a gib f to rest between theclampingcam G and the leg-section D, as in Figs. 11 and 14:, whichconsists of a plate of thin metal, and may be riveted to the plate F, asshown best in Fig. 15.

The clamping device for the bottom of the canvas and which by myimproved construction is adapted for attachment to either legsection isformed of two plates of sheet metal, as at H 11, connected at their endsby pins h h.

The pins h it may be rigidly attached to the plate H but the plate H maybe turned upon the pin 72. to the position seen in Fig. 6 for attachmentor removal from the leg-sections, the opposite end of the plate I-Ibeing provided with a slot 7L2, forming a sort of a hook which receivesone end of the pin 71, as seen in Fig. 5. Upon the pin h is mounted athreaded stud I, carrying a thumb-nut z and a collar 4;, the latterbeing forced against the canvas X by said nut, and the inner end of saidstud I is curved downward, as seen at 1' so as to bear against theleg-section at a point below the pin it when the stud I is borne down bythe weight of the canvas X. The pin h carries a suitable spring, whichfor the purpose of economyI prefer to make of wire, as shown at J, Figs.4 and 5, rather than of flat metal, as shown in my previous patent, thefunction of the spring being the same, however-viz. to draw the contactend of the threaded stud I normally against the legsection; but in thepresent case it also serves to keep the hooked side 1-1 in place uponthe pin h, so that when in use the clamp is practically as firm as if itwere not capable of openingfor removal, the particular advantage beingthat a stop-pin d may be provided in the leg-section D, which preventsthe separation of the sections D D without in any way interfering withthe operation of the improved canvas'support or clamp upon eithersection.

The application of the cam principle in the various instances in thepresent case is simply a variation of the device as first applied by mein the patent of 1887 to the adjustable fastening for the leg-sections.

For the adjustable canvas-clamp just described I may substitute avariation of the form shown in my patent of 1893 by making the strapencircling the legs in two parts, one of which may be revolved, as inthe case herein shown. I may also use a clamp adjusted by a cam, andasomewhat similar form of support may be made by forming the screw andfront and back and side of the frame encircling the legs of one solidcasting, the screw being at the front, as in the illustration, or at theback, in either case serving to bind the canvas against the easel, as inFig. 5. The saving of expense which would result from the use of a camor a wedge in place of the screw to clamp the canvas is, however, soslight that I prefer to use the form illustrated; but any clampsupporting itself and having a screw or cam by means of which the canvasmay be clamped to the leg and capable of being placed upon either partof a leg formed in two sections pivotally or otherwise connected andwhich are prevented from complete separation will come Within the scopeof my invention.

Having described my improvements,what I claim is' 1. In an easel havinglegs composed of two sliding sections, the combination of two metalstraps having a notch in each edge and secured to the lower end of theupper section, a metal plate provided with notches to engage those ofthe straps, and a tapering lever se-.

cured to said plate acting as a wedge for securing the lower to theupper leg-section.

2. In an easel having legs composed of two sliding sections, thecombination of two metal straps secured to the upper leg-sectionprovided with a notch in opposing sides, a metal plate having notchesfor receiving the straps, a tapering wedge or lever for frictionalcontact with a sliding leg-section, and a gib of thin metal placedbetween said section and the wedge-shaped lever, all substantially forthe purpose described.

3. In an easel having legs composed of two sliding sections, a pivotedlever formed of' sheet metal and provided at its side and at its outeredge with a V-shaped ridge graduallyincreasing in depth from end to end,said ridge acting as a wedge between the two slid IIO ing leg-sections,substantially for the purpose set forth.

4. In an easel, a head for pivotally connectin g the legs composed offront and back plates riveted together and forming a socket for thereception of a vertically-sliding bar and provided with three pairs ofcars for pivotally connecting the legs of the easel, and means for adjustably fastening the said bar therein.

5. In an easel, a head for connecting the pivoted legs composed of frontand back plates riveted together and forming a socket for the receptionof a vertically-sliding bar and provided with three pairs of cars forattaching the legs of the easel and a pair of cars to which is pivoted acam-lever, substantially for the purpose set forth.

6. In an adjustable easel, a head for connecting the pivoted legscomposed of two parts riveted together and forming a well or vas adaptedfor ready attachment to either,

leg-section, all combined substantially for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ANSON K. CROSS.

Witnesses:

GEORGE S. DYER, BENJ. F. WARD.

